Organoid and Organ-On-A-Chip Systems: New Paradigms for Modeling Neurological and Gastrointestinal Disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The modeling of biological processes in vitro provides an important tool to better understand mechanisms of development and disease, allowing for the rapid testing of therapeutics. However, a critical constraint in traditional monolayer culture systems is the absence of the multicellularity, spatial organization, and overall microenvironment present in vivo . This limitation has resulted in numerous therapeutics showing efficacy in vitro , but failing in patient trials. In this review, we discuss several organoid and "organ-on-a-chip" systems with particular regard to the modeling of neurological diseases and gastrointestinal disorders.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recently, the in vitro generation of multicellular organ-like structures, coined organoids, has allowed the modeling of human development, tissue architecture, and disease with human-specific pathophysiology. Additionally, microfluidic "organ-on-a-chip" technologies add another level of physiological mimicry by allowing biological mediums to be shuttled through 3D cultures.

SUMMARY: Organoids and organ-chips are rapidly evolving in vitro platforms which hold great promise for the modeling of development and disease.